Speakers

Speaker profile

Vanessa is an International Interior Designer and Business Design Consultant, with over thirty years experience in B2B procurement in the design profession. Her client list range from Heads of State, Royals, Diplomats and celebrities to HNW individuals and investors from luxury to entry level.

With an overall aim for improvement of interior design in commercial and residential sectors, quality of finish and function, Vanessa has vision, strong management skills and is a highly experienced interior designer. Her own multi award-winning fit-out company means the skill-sets of each trade are carried out to an exacting standard. In recognition of her high standard Vanessa won the Daily Mail Interior Design of the Year for UK award in 2007, in 2010 and 2011 winning additional awards from International Property Awards ‘Best of Best’. Her design practice has also won multi awards for fit-out. In 2009 she founded the Society of British Interior Design, in 2013 she converted it to international and it is now the largest member organisation for interior designers in Britain and is represented in 85 countries. In 2013 Vanessa won the Woman in the City Woman of Achievement Award for the Built Environment and in 2014 she was awarded an OBE for services to interior design and the UK economy by the Prime Ministers Office. In 2015 she was honoured by Solent University with a Honorary Doctorate for her services to education in Interior Design.

Vanessa advises on company culture and financial direction to generate income, create fault-finding solutions to companies in construction and commercial property. This has led to manufacture and interior-design-related sectors winning her personal international business leadership awards throughout her career in procurement, management, design, and business enterprise. She is Founder and President of the Society of British Interior Design and formerly the Finance Director of Diplomatic Security Service a company that protects Heads of State, Royals and high risk personnel around the world. Advising diplomats and governmental departments on property-investment, refurbishment providing discreet property fit-out and interior design to many Countries with representation in Britain and around the world. Vanessa is a regular public speaker for the UK in Britain, Europe, USA and the Middle East.

Vanessa is one of the four owners of the national music quiz, Popmaster board game, playing cards, books and live quiz played weekdays on the Ken Bruce show on BBC Radio 2.